My research primarily focuses on the intersection of evolutionary biology, plant geography, and big data science, with an emphasis on the dynamic processes of plant diversity formation, evolution, and biogeographic distribution patterns on a deep‑time scale. The main study regions are Southwest China and the Korean Peninsula. I integrate fossil morphological data, modern plant distribution information, and molecular phylogenetic evidence, combined with database construction and Bayesian statistical models, to investigate the origin, dispersal, and floristic evolutionary patterns of key plant groups.

Over the past decade, I have achieved the following systematic and innovative results in the above directions:

1. Deep‑time plant diversity and floristic evolution: Focusing on the tropical area of southeastern Yunnan, I systematically revealed the deep‑time plant diversity, origin, and differentiation processes of this region during the Paleogene. By comparing the Paleogene floristic composition of southeastern Yunnan and central Tibet, I proposed that these two regions initially shared similar floristic backgrounds, and their floras gradually diverged with the uplift of the Qinghai‑Tibet Plateau. This provides a new deep‑time perspective for understanding the origin and evolution of China’s flora.
2. Macroevolutionary inference of Fabaceae (legume) evolutionary history: I constructed a global fossil morphology database for Fabaceae and, within a Bayesian framework, integrated fossil and extant data to infer the diversification history and key trait evolution trajectories of legumes through time. This work provides important data support for phylogenetic and biogeographic studies of Fabaceae. In addition, I discovered first global fossil records of the legume genera Pterolobium, Cladrastis, Dalbergia, Mezoneuron, and Mucuna, providing fossil evidence for the evolutionary history of these groups.
3. Evolution of traits and distribution patterns in key groups: I reported the first occurrence of the fossil genus Cedrelospermum in Asia and comprehensively reconstructed its trait evolution sequence and biogeographic migration history between East Asia and North America over the past 50 million years. Two related studies were selected as cover papers for journals, and the work on trait evolution received the “Outstanding Young Scholar Paper” award from the Journal of Systematics and Evolution in 2019.

I have published over 30 SCI papers in leading journals in my field, including more than 20 as first or corresponding author in journals such as American Journal of Botany, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, iScience, BMC Plant Biology, Journal of Systematics and Evolution, Paleoworld, and Plant Diversity (including 2 cover papers and 1 annual outstanding young scholar paper). I have been invited to give oral presentations at numerous international and domestic conferences, including the International Organisation of Palaeobotany (Brazil, Czech Republic), the Eurasian Neogene Palaeoclimate Conference, and the Botanical Society of China meeting. I have led eight research grants, including General and Youth Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, General and Youth Projects of the Yunnan Basic Research Program, and Open Projects from the State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy. I have been selected for the CAS “Light of West China” Talent Program and the Yunnan “Revitalizing Yunnan Talent Support Program” for young talents.

2012-09–2018-01: Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences – Ph.D. (combined Master's–Ph.D. program)

   

2024-06–Present: Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences – Associate Professor

2018-02–2024-05: Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences – Assistant Professor

1)       C-C YU; Z-Q Mo; J-Y Lu; J-J Hu; J-B Yang; S-F Li; L-B Jia. Revisiting the Molecular Circumscription of Sladeniaceae sensu lato (Ericales): Insights from Phylogenetic Discordance. American Journal of Botany. 接收. 通讯作者

2)        Jia L-B, Wang S-Y, Hu J-J, Miao K, Huang Y-J, Ji Y-H. 2024. Plastid phylogenomics and fossil evidence provide new insights into the evolutionary complexity of the 'woody clade' in Saxifragales. BMC Plant Biology 24: 277. 共同第一作者

3)       Li X-Y, Nam G-S, Li S-F; L-B Jia. 2025. Fossil evidence and ecological niche modelling reveal trait evolution and biogeography of the Ilex cornuta lineage. Journal of Palaeogeography 14: 100251. 通讯作者.

4)       Li J, Zhang S-T, Li X-Y, Xu C-L, Zhu Y, Zuo R-H, Jia L-B. 2024. New fossils reveal the Paleogene establishment of relict Craigia (Malvaceae) in its extant range. Palaeoworld 33: 439–447. （共同通讯）

5)        Jia L-B, Nam G-S, Su T, Yang X, Zhou Z-K, Ji Y-H. 2023. Miocene Dipteronia (Sapindaceae) samaras from South Korea and their biogeographical implications. iScience 26: 106515.

6)        Jia L-B, Hu J-J, Zhang S-T, Su T, Spicer RA, Liu J, Yang J-C, et al. 2022. Bauhinia (Leguminosae) fossils from the Paleogene of southwestern China and its species accumulation in Asia. Diversity 14: 173.

7)        Jia L-B, Huang J, Su T, Spicer RA, Zhang S-T, Li S-F, Pan B, et al. 2021a. Fossil infructescence from southwestern China reveals Paleogene establishment of Cladrastis in Asia. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 292: 104456.

8)        Jia L-B, Manchester SR, Huang J, Su T, Xue L, Zhang S-T, Huang Y-J, et al. 2021b. First fossil record of an East Asian endemic genus Sladenia (Sladeniaceae) from its modern range: implications for floristic evolution and conservation biology. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 59(1): 216–226.

9)        Jia L-B, Nam G-S, Su T, Stull GW, Li S-F, Huang Y-J, Zhou Z-K. 2021c. Fossil fruits of Firmiana and Tilia from the middle Miocene of South Korea and the efficacy of the Bering land bridge for the migration of mesothermal plants. Plant Diversity 43: 480–491.

10)   Xue L, Jia L-B, Nam G-S, Huang Y-J, Zhang S-T, Wang Y-Q, Zhou Z, et al. 2020. Involucre fossils of Carpinus, a northern temperate element, from the Miocene of China and the evolution of its species diversity in East Asia. Plant Diversity 42: 155–167. （共同通讯）

11)    Jia L-B, Su T, Huang Y-J, Wu F-X, Deng T, Zhou Z-K. 2019. First fossil record of Cedrelospermum (Ulmaceae) from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau: Implications for morphological evolution and biogeography. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 57(2): 94–104.（封面文章）

12)    Jia L-B, Huang Y-J, Sun H, Su T, Huang J, Zhou Z-K. 2017. First fossil of Pterolobium (Leguminosae) from the Middle Miocene Yunnan, South China. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 242: 21–32.

13)    Jia L-B, Manchester SR, Su T, Xing Y-W, Chen W-Y, Huang Y-J, Zhou Z-K. 2015. First occurrence of Cedrelospermum (Ulmaceae) in Asia and its biogeographic implications. Journal of Plant Research 128: 747–761.（封面文章）